Stub and Gleinalpe

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrift accumulations

Moderate avalanche danger at high altitudes due to fresh snowdrift accumulations

Avalanche danger in the Gurktal and Seetal Alps, on Packalpe and Koralpe above the timberline is moderate. Small drifts are danger zones which can trigger small-to-medium releases. Also, a weak layer distributed throughout all aspects inside the snowpack fundament (persistent weak layer) can be triggered in few places by large additional loading, but huge slab avalanches are possible. Also, small snowdrift accumulations can be triggered even by minimum additional loading. Most critical are the transition zones from shallow to deep snow and the entries into gullies and bowls.

On Tuesday night and on Wednesday, only a small amount of fresh snow is expected. Stormy NW winds are generating small snowdrift accumulations, often poorly bonded with the snowbase beneath them. In addition, more deeply embedded inside the snowpack are weak layers of faceted crystals bordering on melt-freeze crusts, weakening the entire snowpack thereby. They occur only in a few places, are generally triggerable by large additional loading.

On Tuesday night and Wednesday, only a bit of fresh snow (snowfall level 800-1000m). Stormy NW winds will generated intense snow transport. Some sunshine will peek through. At 2000 m: -7 degrees. On Thursday, heavily overcast all day long, with intensifying precipitation over the morning. Strong to stormy winds.

Fresh snow and storm-strength winds are causing avalanche danger levels to rise.